Abstract
This paper gives the results from four-year field experiments on compost application, added at the maximum rate allowed by Italian legislation (30 t/ha/y). The purpose of the experiment was to evaluate any eventual heavy metal accumulation in soil and corn plants. Cadmium in corn plants increased particularly in the roots from 0.22 mg kg−1 to 1.31 mg kg−1, concentration of Zn and Cu increased in grains, from 26.8 to 35.8 and from 2.4 to 4.2 mg kg−1 respectively. Relevant increase in the roots was detected for Zn from 34.6 to 146.8 mg kg−1. Only in the 4th year Ni concentration increases in the root portion while the content of Pb and Cr in corn was generally unaffected by the compost application. Heavy metals in the soil determined by a sequential chemical extraction, indicated that extractability changed with time. A certain increase was found from the beginning to the end of the experiment particularly for Zn, from 23.3 mg kg−1 to 45.1 mg kg−1 in extractable forms. Nevertheless the extractable amounts are rather small in respect to the total heavy metal content of compost.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Banin A, Navrot J, Noi Y and Yoles D 1981 Accumulation of heavy metals in arid-zone soils irrigated with treated sewage effluents and their uptake by Rhoades grass. J. Environ. Qual. 10, 536–542.
Clapp C E, Stark S A, Clay D E and Larson W E 1986In The Role of Organic Matter in Modern Agriculture. Eds. Y Chen and Y Avnimelech. pp 209–254. Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Emmerich W E, Lund L J, Page A L and Chang A C 1982 Solid phase forms of heavy metals in sewage sludge-treated soils. J. Environ. Qual. 11, 178–181.
Epstein E, Taylor J M and Chaney R L 1976 Effects of sewage sludge and sludge compost applied to soil on some soil physical and chemical properties. J. Environ. Qual. 5, 422–426.
Guidi G and Hall J E 1984 Effects of sewage sludge on the physical and chemical properties of soils.In Processing and Use of Sewage Sludge. Eds. P. L’Hermite and H Ott. pp 295–395. D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Guidi G, Pera A, Giovannetti M, Poggio G and De Bertoldi M 1988 Variations of soil structure and microbial population in a compost amended soil. Plant and Soil 106, 113–119.
Hardings S A, Clapp C E and Larson W E 1984 Nitrogen availability and uptake from field soils five years after incorporation of sewage sludge. J. Environ. Qual. 14, 95–100.
Hohla G N, Jones R L and Hinesly T D 1978 The effect of anaerobically digested sewage sludge on organic fractions of Blount silt loam. J. Environ. Qual. 7, 559–563.
Kladivko E J and Nelson D W 1979 Changes in soil properties from application of anaerobic sludge. J. Water Poll. Control Fed. 51, 325–332.
Mays D A, Terman G L and Duggan J C 1973 Municipal compost: Effects on crop yields and soil properties. J. Environ. Qual. 2, 89–92.
Petruzzelli G, Lubrano L and Guidi G 1985. Heavy metal extractability. Biocycle 26, 46–49.
Petruzzelli G, Guidi G and Lubrano L 1985 Ionic strength effect on heavy metal adsorption by soil. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 16, 971–986.
Petruzzelli G, Guidi G and Lubrano L 1986 Modification of heavy metals solubility in soil treated with sewage sludge.In Processing and Use of Organic Sludge and Liquid Agricultural Wastes. Ed. P G Hermite. pp 478–484. Reidel Pub. Com. Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Sposito G, Lund L J and Chang A C 1982 Trace metal chemistry in arid-zone field soils amended with sewage sludge. I. Fractionation of Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in solid phases. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 46, 260–66.
Stark S A and Clapp C E 1980 Residual nitrogen available from soils treated with sewage sludge in a field experiment. J. Environ. Qual. 9, 505–512.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Petruzzelli, G., Lubrano, L. & Guidi, G. Uptake by corn and chemical extractability of heavy metals from a four year compost treated soil. Plant Soil 116, 23–27 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02327253
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02327253